By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes ….
Despite Strong Demand, the 1993-P Roosevelt Dime Was a Well-Made Coin
1993 marked one of the last years in the 20th century that the Philadelphia Mint would strike less than one billion dimes. Included in the official mintage of 766,180,000 coins, the United States Mint sold a total of 1,297,431 Uncirculated Mint Sets in 1993.
Despite the mintage figures, the modern Mint’s level of quality control in 1993 was quite high, which means there are few official varieties. Die expert Dr. James Wiles and VarietyVista lists only one: “ODV – 015: Straight G of God”. Additionally, the total population of Full Bands/Full Torch designated examples for 1993 represents a 34% increase over that of 1992 and a 596% increase over the 1991 population.
How Much Is the 1993-P Roosevelt Dime Worth?
In MS65, the 1993-P dime is readily available for between $1 and $5. In fact, all grades from MS65 and below are found easily in circulation. For coins that have been well preserved in high Mint State grades, the value starts to climb, and in MS66 the 1993-P sells for an average of $12 at auction. Move one grade higher, and this type becomes much less common, with NGC and PCGS together certifying a total population of only 168 pieces. As of February 2025, CAC has yet to sticker or grade any examples.
A straight MS67 can sell for an average of $17 to $18, but this rarity is slightly misleading. While MS67s are definitely more uncommon than mid-MS grades, many examples exist that have not been submitted for grading. Specimens graded MS68, however, are a different story. With only three certified examples known, this grade is a true conditional rarity. The last straight-graded MS68 to come to auction in 2018 sold for $200.
Pieces designated as Full Bands or Full Torch command a significant premium over straight-graded examples. So, what does it take to get an FB/FT designation? The coin must display a reverse torch that has two distinct pairs of upper and lower horizontal bands. This is not only a factor of circulation condition but also of strike quality. While coins graded as low as MS60 can receive an FB/FT designation, PCGS records MS65 as the lowest grade with a FB/FT designation, and NGC reports MS66.
Full Torch and Full Band examples graded MS65 or 66 command an average price of $30 to $40, with MS67 FT/FB examples worth $50. When an MS68 last came to public auction in 2018, it sold for a record (non-error) price for this grade of $333. Please note that the PCGS CoinFacts auction record price of $2,990 (and a slightly lower priced example which sold for $2,760) are both for a mislabeled $10 gold eagle.
A number of error types have come to market and commanded significant prices. For example, an MS66 double denomination with a Lincoln Cent overstruck on the 1993 dime sold for $556 in 2018. Besides errors, all examples in grades lower than Mint State command no premium over face value. These coins are numismatically useful only to fill out a date or type set.
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Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens
Top Population: PCGS MS68FB (1, 2/2025), NGC MS67FTP (1, 2/2025), and CAC N/A (0, 2/2025).
- NGC MS68FT #2559352-003: GreatCollections, December 9, 2018 – View.
- NGC MS68FT #3619794-016: GreatCollections, September 2, 2018 – View.
- NGC MS68FT #2544715-004: “The Paul Kiraly #1 NGC Registry Roosevelt Dimes, Circulation Issue,” Heritage, December 7, 2014 – $235.
- NGC MS67FT #4810983-011: GreatCollections, October 22, 2023 – View. Franklin D. Roosevelt American Leaders label (#1114).
- PCGS MS67FB #21406442: “From the Erasmus Hall Registry Set of Roosevelt Dimes,” GreatCollections, January 16, 2022 – View. LS Brown [Collection] on label.
- PCGS MS67FB #40030309:GreatCollections, December 13, 2020 – View; GreatCollections, March 14, 2021 – View.
- PCGS MS67FB #27810262: “The Centurion Collection,” GreatCollections, April 1, 2018 – View.
- PCGS MS67FB #84747927: GreatCollections, October 8, 2017 – View.
- PCGS MS67FB #21519991: Heritage, May 1, 2010 – $322; Heritage, April 21, 2012 – $53.
- NGC MS67FT #1797778-027: Heritage, September 30, 2008 – $42.
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Design
Obverse:
Most of the obverse design consists of a left-facing bust of the beloved late 32nd President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (served 1933-45). In the northwest quadrant, directly in front of Roosevelt’s face, is the standard legend LIBERTY. Below the president’s chin in smaller letters is the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. Directly below the neck truncation on the bust are the designers’ initials JS. Placed at a slightly higher line than the motto and to designer’s initials’ right is the date 1993. Unlike earlier dimes struck before 1965 that have the mintmark on the lower reverse to the left of the torch, the P mintmark is on the obverse above the date.
Reverse:
Centered in the reverse design is a flaming torch symbolizing liberty. The torch sits between the olive branch of peace on the left and the oak branch of victory on the right. Split into four parts between the branches and torch is the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. Since the words are divided “E PLU / RIB / US U / NUM”, there are centering dots between each word. This central design is completely surrounded by the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA at the top and the slightly larger denomination ONE DIME on the bottom.
Edge:
The edge of the 1993 P Roosevelt dime is reeded with 118 reeds.
Designer
John R. Sinnock became the eighth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint upon George T. Morgan’s death in 1925, holding the position until his own death on May 14, 1947. In addition to being chosen by Mint Director Nellie Ross to design both the new Roosevelt Dime and Franklin Half Dollar in 1946, Sinnock is responsible for engraving the 1926 Sesquicentennial American Independence Half Dollar and gold $2.50 for the 150th anniversary of the United States of America. Sinnock also helped sculpt the U.S. Army’s modern Purple Heart Medal for Military Merit by soldiers wounded in combat.
Coin Specifications
| Country: | United States of America |
| Year of Issue: | 1993 |
| Denomination: | Dime (10 Cents USD) |
| Mintmark: | P (Philadelphia) |
| Mintage: | 766,180,000 |
| Alloy: | .750 copper, .250 nickel |
| Weight: | 2.27 g |
| Diameter: | 17.90 mm |
| Edge: | Reeded |
| OBV Designer: | John R. Sinnock |
| REV Designer: | John R. Sinnock |
| Quality: | Business Strike |
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I have this coin but am in Nigeria. How can I sell it?
As the article notes, it’s only worth face value.
I noticed a few “oops”es in the article:
> “strike less than one trillion dimes” ? Shouldn’t that be “billion”? :)
> “dimes struck before 1967 that have the mintmark on the lower reverse”. That would be “before 1965”, as no 1965-67 coins had mintmarks.
> “Weight 2.50 g” should be 2.27 g. 90% silver dimes were 2.50 g but clad versions are lighter.
The part about the “mislabeled $10 gold” needs more explanation. “All grades below MS-65 easily found in circulation” cannot be true of uncirculated grades.
I have 1962 silver dime. It has the mint mark on the back ive never seen one. Do i have something good?
@James The mint mark’s position isn’t an error or otherwise unusual. From 1946 to 1964, Roosevelt dimes carried their mint marks on the reverse rather than the obverse. In addition, you may find many “plain” dimes from that period because Philadelphia dimes didn’t use a P mint mark until 1980.
1962 is a common date; unless it’s in top condition or has some other feature that makes it collectible it’s worth only its melt value, about $2 as of this writing.
I have lots of pennies old pennies so how do I get them to someone to look at
I have a Liberty 1993 P error coin. And I would like to know how much it is worth please.
@Sentille Opperman You’ll need to provide a lot more details, or have an expert examine your coin in person. Specifically:
> All US coins have the word Liberty or an image of Miss Liberty; “Liberty coin” could refer to any of them.
> What denomination is the coin?
> What does the suspected error look like?
Please do an article on the 1993 D dime with FB. I have one graded ms66 with FB which PCGS has only 11 in there POP report.
I have a 1993 P dime that is missing the JS initials on the obverse and doubling on the reverse. What should I do with it?